If you’ve ever dreamed of owning or playing on an old Fender Strat you may find this story interesting. This instrument is a great example of the so-called Holy Grail of electric guitars! Here’s how I came in contact with a very well preserved 1956 Fender Stratocaster.
I work in a music store where we buy and sell musical instruments of all kinds. It was just another day in the neighborhood one day, when a woman stopped by with her fathers guitar looking for some advice.
When I saw the case she was carrying in, I immediately knew it would be something exciting. In her hand was an ancient Fender guitar case. She explained her father was the original owner, and the guitar had spent many years “under the bed” and had not been played much. Her Dad had recently passed away and she had decided to sell the guitar.
She told us she was in the process of ‘shopping it around’ taking offers. We told her the guitar was rare and very valuable and she should be very careful selling it. She told us she had already done some research on it, and had a pretty good idea what a fair offer should be.
Time to call the boss!
This is the Holy Grail of guitars! We can’t let her leave and possibly sell it to someone else! It’s time to call the boss and make the sale happen now! We took these pictures and sent them to the owner of our company and he had a fast and simple reply: “Ask her how much she wants to stop shopping it around right now!”
We did, and an agreement was quickly reached.
Holy Smoke! We are about to purchase a super clean, all original, 195o’s Stratocaster! I don’t have to tell you this is a once in a lifetime experience for the employees in our store!
taking a ‘hard look’
On the surface everything looks perfect and we are very excited to have a look inside.
The Moment of Truth!
This guitar was assembled in October 1956. Certified Vintage!
Case Candy Included!
Inside the case we found the tremolo bar, the chrome “ash tray” bridge cover, some old cables, the case keys, and the original purchase receipt!
It cleaned up real nice!
How about Dad’s amplifier?
Say what? Dad’s amp you say!
